The role as both father of King David and ancestor of Jesus has been used in various depictions in art, poetry and music e.g. as the Tree of Jesse or in hymns like "Lo, how a rose e'er blooming."

The Book of Samuel states that Jesse had eight sons, naming the first three as Eliab, Abinadab and Shammah, and David as the youngest.

[5] The Book of Chronicles oddly only names seven sons of Jesse—Eliab, Abinadab, Shimea, Nethanel, Raddai, Ozem and David—as well as two daughters, Zeruiah and Abigail.

He used that excuse because he was afraid that King Saul might kill him if he suspected the true reason for his arrival in Bethlehem.

Later on Jesse sent his son David with gifts to be given to his older brothers who were to fight in the war against the Philistines in Saul's army.

[9][10] These prophecies are also regarded in Latter-Day Saint Movement about the coming Root of Jesse, an ensign who holds special priesthood keys and a gathering of the Lord's people.

[citation needed] It receives numerous visitors every year, especially on the Jewish holiday of Shavuot when the Book of Ruth is read.

[12] The 1537 book Yihus HaAvos V'Neviim (Lineage of the Patriarch and the Prophets) describes the tomb as "a handsome building up on the mount, where Jesse, the King David's father is buried."

It includes a drawing of the site, and notes an "ancient Israelite burial ground" nearby and Crusader courtyard.

Rabbi Moshe Basola wrote in his travel journal[13] that the site houses a cave which connects to the Tomb of Machpela, an assertion postulated by many over the years.